End of the year freestyle rankings

Friday, November 11, 2022 - 11:18 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 11) -- The final set of rankings for the freestyle wrestlers is out. With more than six ranking events and two championships, wrestlers had the opportunity to finish in the top three and collect the prize money.

The wrestlers managed to claim the points from the four Ranking Series events, continental championships and the World Championships. Two Games were also included in the Rankings Series but a total of only four events were counted for awarding the points.

Here are the rankings after the 2022 season.

Thomas GILMAN (USA) claimed the top spot at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

57kg
1. Thomas GILMAN (USA) - $5000
2. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) - $3000
3. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) - $2000

Thomas GILMAN (USA) earned the top billing at 57kg after medaling in three point-earning events. He won the Pan-American Championships and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event before closing the season with a runner-up finish at the World Championships. Altogether, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist was 10-1 on the season.

Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) grabbed gold in Belgrade and collected 45,000 Ranking Series points, which was good enough to catapult him to the No. 2 spot in the 57kg rankings. With his win over Gilman in the 57kg world finals, the 29-year-old Albanian made history for his country, becoming the first wrestler to win a world title.

Abakarov’s gold in Belgrade also earned a berth on the All-World team for the 2022 Freestyle World Cup, which will take place in Coralville, Iowa, USA, December 10-11.

Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) finished the season tied with Abakarov with 45,000, but due to the Albanian’s higher placement at the World Championships, the Mongolian ended up in the third position in the 57kg rankings. His 2022 body of work included fifth-place finishes at the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, before finishing the season with a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) won the world title and the top spot at 61kg. (Photo: UWW /Kadir Caliskan)

61kg
1. Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) - $5000
2. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) - $3000
3. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) - $2000

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) went 8-0 during his 2022 season and finished the year as the 61kg’s top guy. He won four matches in each of his outings and submitted to the podium at the Asian Championships and World Championships.

Armenian youngster Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) rounds out the year ranked second in the world at 61kg after collecting European gold and a world bronze.

Harutyunyan had his handed raised in 11 of the 12 bouts he competed in this season, and only fell to eventual world champion Higuchi in the world quarterfinals. Despite it not counting towards his senior-level point total, the 23-year-old native of Masis, Armenia, won his second consecutive U23 world title.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) ended the year ranked third in the world at 61kg with 39,120 points. He was a runner-up at the European Championships and a bronze-medal finisher at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series. Although he didn’t win a medal, he did finish in the top ten of the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) won the Asian and world titles to leapfrong his opponents for the number one rank at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
1. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) - $5000
2. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND). - $3000
3. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) - $2000

Belgrade world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) topped the rankings at 65kg after snagging golds at the Continental and World Championships. During his 2022 campaign, the 20-year-old Iranian youngster beat Tokyo Olympic medalists Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Bajrang BAJRANG (IND).

Amouzad took out Bajrang, a Tokyo bronze medal winner, to win the Asian title. Then, he cruised to a 9-2 win over three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev in the world semifinals.

Bajrang edged Hungary’s Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) by 200 points for the No. 2 spot at 65kg.

Bajrang earned a silver medal at the Asian Championships and bronze medals at the Bolt Turlykhanov Cup and World Championships and finished the season with 44,200 points.

Muszukajev won the European Championships and took home a bronze from the World Championships, completing the year with 44,000 points.

Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) also had 44,000 points but he did not win a medal at the World Championships while Muszukajev did to finish ahead of Riveria.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) finished with 57720 points to claim the top rank at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

70kg
1. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) - $5000
2. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) - $2000

At 70kg, 2,720 points were the difference between the first and third-ranked wrestlers.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) edged Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) for the top spot with three medals in point-based events. He won European gold in Hungary and finished with bronze medals at the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series events.

Akmataliev laid it on the line at a pair of Ranking Series events, and the Asian and World Championships. He medaled in three of those events, finishing with gold, silver and bronze at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, Asian Championships and World Championships, respectively. He fell short of the top spot by 2,200 points – which could have happened with a mere 10th place or better finish at a Ranking Series event.

Despite winning Asian and world gold, Narikuni fell 2,720 points -- equivalent to a ninth-place finish at a Ranking Series event -- short of claiming the top spot at the weight.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Kyle DAKE (USA) finished 1-2 respectively at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg
1. Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) - $5000
2. Kyle DAKE (USA) - $3000
3. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) - $2000

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) grabbed the No. 1 spot in the world rankings after winning 15 consecutive matches before falling in the world finals to No. 2 Kyle DAKE (USA).

Salkazanov won his second consecutive European title and grabbed Ranking Series titles at the Matteo Pellicone and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup. He competed in two more competitions than his American foe and outscored him by 13,000 points.

This season, Dake competed at the World and Pan-American Championships and won gold at both events. It was his fourth consecutive gold-medal finish at the World Championships and second title-winning effort at the Pan-Am C’ships. He finished the season with 58,000 ranking points, which was 11,000 points ahead of the third-ranked wrestler.

Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) rounded out the season ranked No. 3 in the world after a trio of top ten finished. He started the season with a gold-medal win at the Yasar Dogu, then finished in fifth and eighth place at the World and European Championships, respectively.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) remained untouched at the top spot at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

79kg
1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) - $5000
2. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) - $2000

There was no one challenging Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) for the top spot at 79kg and he never gave anyone a chance as well. In Belgrade, Burroughs won a record sixth world title. He finished at the top of the rankings with 63000 points with 45000 points coming from the gold in Belgrade. Apart from that, he won the Yasar Dogu event at the beginning of the year for 13000 points before the Pan-Am gold awarded him 5000 points.

The second spot sees a surprise as Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) jumped from 14th to second. He has 51700 points with 31000 points coming from the bronze medal at the World Championships. He was also a bronze medalist at the Yasar Dogu for 10200 points. Another bronze at the Asian Championships awarded him 6500 points. He decided to participate in the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup as well and finished fifth for 4000 points.

But his participation in various events helped him finish better than World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who has 45000 points. The silver in Belgrade was worth 37000 points and the other 8000 points were won at the Zouhaier Sghaier event as he finished that with a gold medal.

Boris MAKOEV (SVK) outclassed other acclaimed wrestlers at 86kg and won the top spot. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

86kg
1. Boris MAKOEV (SVK) - $5000
2. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) - $3000
3. David TAYLOR (USA) - $2000

There was little separating the top two at 86kg but Boris MAKOEV (SVK) clinched the top spot with 100 points more than Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). Makoev finished with 49100 points thanks to his participation in four events. He began with a ninth-place finish at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning silver at Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and bronze at Matteo Pellicone. The two medals were worth a combined 11600 points. He finished the season with a bronze medal at the World Championships for 31000 points.

Dauletbekov also participated in four events with Asian Championships being his first. He won gold at 86kg for 10000 points before adding 4000 points for a fifth-place finish at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, perhaps the most crucial tournament in hindsight.

The Kazakhstan wrestler did win the Zouhaier Sghaier event but the gold was worth only 4000 points for him. He matched Makoev for the bronze at the World Championships but failed to overtake him for the top rank.

The third spot was claimed by world champion David TAYLOR (USA) who finished with 45000 points, all of which came from the gold he won in Belgrade.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) also finished with 45000 points but in fourth place as Taylor won gold in Belgrade while Yazdani won silver.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) finished with 53000 points in 2022. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

92kg
1. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) - $5000
2. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) - $3000
3. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

World champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was the clear favorite to finish at the first spot and he did that by winning the gold medal in Belgrade at 92kg. He got 45000 points for the win and 8000 points more from the gold he won at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup for a total of 53000 points.

Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) made a big jump from the 11th spot to the second by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. With 49700 points, the made sure he was clear of the other bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE). In the three events he participated in for points, Maisuradze won bronze at the European Championships for 6500 points, the same as Nurmagomedov who also won a bronze.

At the Matteo Pellicone, the two met in the final that was won by Nurmagomedov who got 8000 points while Maisuradze got 6400 points. Both then went on to win the bronze medals at the Worlds.

Maisuradze's 5800 points more than Nurmagomedov came from the Yasar Dogu event in which he finished ninth.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in the world finals and finished number one and two in the rankings. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

97kg
1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) - $5000
2. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) - $3000
3. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

The world finalists Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in a close battle for the top spot and the former clinched it with 500 points more than Tsakulov.

Snyder won the Pan-Am gold medal for 10000 points before winning the Zouhaier Sghaier gold and World gold for 8000 points and 45000 points respectively to finish with 63000 points.

Tsakulov began with a bronze medal at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning two rankings series -- Bolat Turlykhanov and Matteo Pellicone -- for 8000 points and 11000 points respectively. His silver at World Championships was worth only 37000 points as he fell short of Snyder's tally.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) claimed the third spot with 47520 points which he accumulated by winning the European Championships for 10000 points, finishing seventh at Matteo Pellicone for 6520 points and winning bronze at World Championships for 31000 points.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) claimed the world gold and the first rank at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

125kg
1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) - $5000
2. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) - $3000
3. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) - $2000

Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) exchanged the top two spots for a long time but the former raced ahead after winning the European and World Championships. The two gold medals were worth 55000 points and he also won the gold at Yasar Dogu for 13000 points, taking his total to 63000 points.

Petriashvili won silver at the European Championships for 8000 points but won the Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier rankings events, for 8000 points each. With 24000 points, gold at World Championships would have taken him to the top but he finished with bronze and 31000 points to settle for the second spot with 55000 points.

The third spot went to Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) who stunned Petriashvili to reach the World Championships final at 125kg. He reach the final at Yasar Dogu and got 11400 points. A bronze medal at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup added 5200 points more to his account. With 37000 points from the World Championships, he finished with 53600 points and the third spot.

#WrestleIstanbul

U17 Worlds: Iran returns to top despite Japan's best show

Sunday, August 6, 2023 - 18:58 By Gaurav Bhatt

ISTANBUL (August 6) -- Iran is finally back where it belongs. After two successive non-podium finishes in Freestyle at U17 World Championships, the country bounced back in style and clinched the team title with 156 points, a decisive 30-point lead over second-place United States.

Impressive performances led Iran to claim a total of six medals, distributed as two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes. Their non-medalist wrestlers too played a crucial role, with two wrestlers finishing fifth (earning 10 points each) and two others finishing seventh (gathering 8 points each).

The U.S. also won six medals -- 3 golds and 3 bronzes -- and took second place with 126 points. Their tally took a hit as the team failed to score any points in three weight categories (51kg, 60kg, and 110kg).

Japan took third at 106 points with two gold medals and one silver. Five other wrestlers added 36 points to help Japan finish on the podium.

The final day of the tournament in Istanbul began with Ahora KHATERI (IRI) defeating Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) in the 45kg category to fetch Iran its second gold of the competition.

It was followed by Japan's Yamato OGAWA (JPN) beating ROHIT (IND) to become the nation's first U17 world champion in freestyle since 2017 before Akito MAEHARA (JPN) made it double. The 60kg competitor defeated Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) in the first instance of Japan winning multiple gold medals in Freestyle at the U17 Worlds.

Khateri, the reigning Asian champion, remains in a league of his own. In Kyrgyzstan, he prevailed with 33 points, giving up no points. He continued where he left off, dominating his way to the world title in Istanbul.

On Sunday, Buniatyan was no match for the crafty Khateri, who secured a leg lace and rolled the Armenian out of bounds to open the scoring. The Iranian showed good timing, taking a 6-0 lead into the break and waiting for his moment in the second period. Khateri secured wrist control, ducked under and grabbed the waistlock to score again.

Akita MAEHARA (JPN) pulled off a hard-fought 4-1 win against Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's hopes of winning the second gold on Sunday, however, were dashed by Maehara. Trailing 1-1 on criteria, the Japanese won a scramble and scored with 10 seconds on the clock to secure a 4-1 victory.

The bout started with both competitors opting for caution before the U17 Asian Championships silver medalist Pirdayeh was put on the shot clock. Maehara took the lead into the break but was later penalized for passivity in the second period. Desperate, he got the underhooks in place and pushed Pirdayeh toward the zone. Pirdayeh dropped on his knees to avoid a stepout but Maehara circled and scored a go-behind.

Iran challenged the call asking for a stepout since Maehara had gone out but on review, it was clear that Maehara had initiated the move inside and stayed on the mat, despite both knees going out, to finish the move. The lost challenge made the score 4-1.

Yamato OGAWA (JPN) survived a scare against ROHIT (IND) before winning the 51kg gold 9-8. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier, Ogawa ended Japan's six-year wait for gold at the U17 level with a tight finish against Asian silver medalist Rohit.

Ogawa's run to gold featured wins over continental heavyweights as the Japanese beat U17 European silver medalist Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM) 7-1, U17 Pan-Am silver medalist Yandel MORALES (PUR) 10-0, and Asian bronze medalist Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI) 4-1.

It was a bout of two halves on Sunday. A slow start saw Rohit give up a point for passivity. The Indian started the second period with intent but paid the price for haste. Ogawa turned a missed takedown attempt into a shoot of his own, launching a double-leg for four. Rohit got two points as well but Ogawa added a leg-lace to lead 7-2. Ogawa won another counter to make it 9-2.

With a late rally, Rohit pushed Ogawa out of bounds along with a point for fleeing to make it 9-4. He added four points for a takedown and roll in the final three seconds but the clock expired as he was turning Ogawa for the second time. Ogawa secured the gold medal at 9-8.

Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) celebrates after becoming the 71kg U17 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Golden Lockett

Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) won the match-up against Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI) to win the 71kg gold. The American — who hadn't surrendered a point in the competition so far, amassing 38 points — finally gave up one in the 4-1 win over the Iranian.

The Oklahoma native has spoken about the state's signature wrestling style before.

“Oklahoma State is always known for elbows, duckunders and things like that," Lockett had told Ocolly.com. "I wanted to have an Oklahoma State style."

That style helped him run roughshod throughout the event. A highlight was his performance in the semifinal against 2021 U17 Asian silver medalist NARENDER (IND). The technical fall win saw Lockett get a spin behind takedown and a trapped arm gut wrench, turning the Indian to finish the bout in the first period.

But on Sunday, after he was put on the shot clock, Lockett had to adapt to the reigning U17 Asian champion's game.

"I think scoring in the first 30 seconds, opening a guy up is really difficult," Lockett said. "But once you can break them and make them tired, it's all fun and games from there."

In the second period, Lockett drove into Hosseini to secure a clutch takedown to pick up a 2-1 lead. After that, it was back to Oklahoma style as the American spun behind Hosseini to pick up two more points, eventually securing the triumph.

"I wrestle a lot when I'm tired," he said. "The training camp of months upon months. Hard work and dedication. He was super tired. I knew he was going to be like that. He did that a lot in the other matches, taking a long time to get to the center, and taking breaks. I knew if I push him hard and make him keep wrestling, he will gas out."

Lockett was buoyed by compatriots Paul KENNY (USA) and Marcus BLAZE's (USA) gold medal wins on Saturday -- "Getting to feel the belt, win the belt," he grinned — and now has one of his own. However, he already has a new target in place.

"2032 Olympic champion, 86kilos baby!"

Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO), blue, scored a technical superiority win over Eyyup CENTIN (TUR) in the 92kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 92kg, Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) silenced the home crowd with a superiority win over Eyyup CETIN (TUR) to take the gold. The two met in the U17 European Championships final as well. Cetin will at least be relieved that he did not get pinned like in Tirana.

The final in Istanbul began with Cetin being warned for passivity. He went for a single-leg but Kurashvili pulled off a stunning move by throwing him over for four points. Kurashvili scored a stepout at the stroke of the break to lead 6-0.

Perhaps feeling the pressure of a loud home crowd, Centin attempted a loose double-leg attack and Kurashvili threw him off for another four points, claiming the world title 10-0.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) df. Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM), 11-0

BRONZE: Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA) df. Agashirin AGASHERINOV (AIN), 3-2
BRONZE: Ebubekir GUR (TUR) df. Nurmukhamed TURDALY (KAZ), via fall (4-0)

51kg
GOLD: Yamato OGAWA (JPN) df. ROHIT (IND), 9-8

BRONZE: Usman INDIRBAEV (AIN) df. Sadraddin HASANOV (AZE), via fall (10-2)
BRONZE: Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM) df. Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI), 2-1

60kg
GOLD: Akito MAEHARA (JPN) df. Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI), 4-1

BRONZE: Iasin BERSANUKAEV (AIN) df. Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 7-5
BRONZE: Jamal ABBASOV (AZE) df. Yandro SOTO (PUR), 6-0

71kg
GOLD: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI), 4-1

BRONZE: Islam KAZHAROV (AIN) df. Alp BEGENJOV (TKM), 5-1
BRONZE: Nurdaulet SEILBEKOV (KAZ) df. NARENDER (IND), 1-1

92kg
GOLD: Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) df. Eyyup CETIN (TUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Toohid NOORY (IRI) df. Genki HOKI (JPN), 12-2
BRONZE: Samir DURSUNOV (KAZ) df. VINAY (IND), 12-1

End of the year freestyle rankings

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U17 Worlds: Iran returns to top despite Japan's best show